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NASA News

The seven members of space shuttle Endeavour’s crew have begun their first full day in space.

The crew was awakened at 3:28 p.m. by the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Linus & Lucy.” The song, which is from the album “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” was played for Mission Specialist Mike Foreman.

The main activity of the day is the standard inspection of Endeavour’s heat shield to ensure it is in good condition following launch. Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialist Takao Doi will use the shuttle’s robotic arm and orbiter boom sensor system to scan the shuttle’s wing leading edges and nose cap. The survey results will be sent to the ground for analysis.

Mission Specialists Robert L. Behnken, Rick Linnehan and Garrett Reisman will check out spacesuits in preparation for the five spacewalks they and Foreman will perform while at the International Space Station. Foreman has several other activities scheduled for the day, including preparations for Wednesday’s docking with the station.

The station crew also is preparing for Wednesday’s docking. Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineers Yuri Malenchenko and Leopold Eyharts started their day at 3 p.m., after a shortened sleep period that allowed them to align their schedules with that of the shuttle crew.

The next STS-123 status report will be issued near the end of the crew’s day at about 5 a.m. Wednesday, or earlier if events warrant.